Lewis Hamilton ready to step up a gear to grab F1 crown

Five drivers remain in the hunt to lift the Formula One world crown –
Lewis Hamilton,
Jenson Button,
Fernando Alonso,
Mark Webber and
Sebastian Vettel – as Interlagos plays host to the penultimate race of the season.

Lewis Hamilton will put his foot down in a desperate bid for more F1 glory (Getty)

The other race is at Abu Dhabi on November 14.

There is a maximum of 50 points in which to settle one of the closest-run championships in years.

Reigning champion Button, who lifted the title in Brazil just 12 short months ago, insists he will not give up the fight despite finding himself 42 points adrift of championship leader Alonso, who is the only driver who could actually lift the title on Sunday.

Button needs to finish in the top two and hope other results go his way to have any chance of retaining his crown.

McLaren team-mate and 2008 champion Hamilton is third, 21 points off the top, followed by Vettel four further back.

Alonso’s closest challenger is Webber, who took the honours in Interlagos last year, and is looking to seal Red Bull’s first title.